Opinion: It’s not just police who police

Captured on camera chatting with American diplomat Kurt Campbell in Tonga last month, Anthony Albanese described Pacific leaders’ support for a new Australian-led policing initiative as a big win.   “We had a

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Moeloto Tuilaepa Tiatia wins for Samoa and the Pacific

Moeloto Tuilaepa Tiatia of Samoa has been elected to the Commonwealth Youth Council executive board ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Samoa.  She emerged as Pacific representative after a keenly

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Pacific nations gear up for a fight over shipping emissions at critical UN meeting

Pacific nations are preparing for a pivotal week of negotiations in London on how to cut planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions in the global shipping industry. Countries will gather later this month to lay out

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New Zealand’s army chief: Pacific nations need tailored military training

As the U.S, China and other powers vie for strategic influence in Pacific Island militaries, the army chief of New Zealand told The Associated Press that not all of the larger nations bidding to offer support are

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“Literacy is the skill we build to communicate”: Celebrating World Literacy Day

Literacy is not just about reading or writing was the message to teachers, students and policy makers marking International Literacy Day in Suva earlier this month. Former Pacific Community (SPC) Director of Educational

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Opinion: Cables under the sea: Pacific island countries need integrated electricity grids

Australia should supercharge the development of Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and contribute to their lasting economic security by investing in inter-island electricity grids and diversified energy sources.  A green

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Pacific islands submit court proposal for recognition of ecocide as a crime

Three developing countries have taken the first steps towards transforming the world’s response to climate breakdown and environmental destruction by making ecocide a punishable criminal offence.  In a submission to

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New U.S COFA agreements offer $7.1b boost to Pacific Freely Associated States, but fiscal reforms are key, ADB report

The streams of U.S dollars that the three freely associated states will receive under their renewed bilateral agreements with the United States will go a long way if they implement stringent fiscal and debt policies and

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Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi ‘humbled’ by the results of the public referendum

In this exclusive, BCN News reports the historic occasion when Speaker Hima Douglas signed into law the changes to the Niue constitution.   Of the four constitutional amendment polls put to the public referendum last

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Digicel Pacific taps SES’s services to bolster Disaster recovery for Tonga

Amidst the increase in natural disasters in the Pacific region, Digicel Pacific and SES have announced an agreement to bolster Digicel Pacific’s network with SES’s service to enable critical communications to be

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Pacific ministers gather to discuss water and wastewater challenges

Twenty Pacific islands ministers have gathered in Rarotonga this week to discuss solutions and ideas to combat water and wastewater threats.  Held at the National Auditorium, the 8th Pacific Water and Wastewater

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Opinion: Albanese government’s Pacific policing deal is a masterstroke of diplomacy

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese may be attempting to backpedal from a “hot mic” moment at the Pacific Islands Forum this week in which he joked the United States “go halvies” on a new regional

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The World Bank head has thoughts on the Pacific – and needs Australia’s help

The president of the World Bank is due in Australia this week offering to be a force-multiplier for good in the Pacific Island states, and expecting some federal funding to do so.  In the first visit by a World Bank

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Reinstatement of Fukushima expert panel to be discussed next year, Forum Leaders push U.S on nuclear testing and focus on regional peace

Pacific Islands Forum Leaders will decide at the next Forum Leaders Meeting in Solomon Islands whether to reinstate the Forum Expert Panel on Fukushima, as concerns persist over Japan’s discharge of treated nuclear

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‘We are going to do right for Samoa’ – Winston Peters on citizenship bill

A talanoa on the Samoa citizenship bill in Auckland on Friday was held against the backdrop of the passing of the Māori king, Kiingi Tuheitia, as well as the death of the RSE workers who died in a car crash on

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Pacific Islands Forum tweaks communique after China outburst

The Pacific Islands Forum secretariat has altered the communique from last week’s summit in Tonga to remove an affirming reference to Taiwan, after an outburst from China.  In a tumultuous ending to the otherwise

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Forum island nations prepare for global oceans conference

As the oceans face devastating change from climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, Pacific governments are preparing for the Third United Nations Ocean Conference, to be held in France in June

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Maori King Tuheitia dies after heart surgery 

New Zealand’s Maori King, Kiingi Tuheitia, has died aged 69, just days after the celebration of his 18th year on the throne.  The death was confirmed by the Kiingitanga’s social media early on Friday. 

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Tonga’s Finance Minister urges Pacific unity to increase Resilience Fund

Tonga’s Finance Minister, Tiofilusi Tiueti, has urged Pacific nations and their partners to rally behind the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), calling it a “bold step” towards a more resilient and sustainable

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Govt. waiting on crash report

The Government through the Minister of Finance has expressed its condolences to the families of seasonal workers who died in a tragic car accident in New Zealand earlier this week.  Minister of Finance, Lautimuia

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Court of Arbitration of Sport dismisses appeal brought by Lee Harmon, former President of the Cook Islands Football Association , against OFC Appeal Committee decision.

The Court of Arbitration of Sport has dismissed an appeal brought by Lee Harmon against a decision issued by the OFC Appeal Committee on 21 May 2024.  The OFC Appeal Committee found Harmon had breached the OFC Code of

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EU Commissioner Urpilainen calls on OACPS members to settle dues

European Union Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, Wednesday expressed serious concerns over the financial health of the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS), warning

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Kiribati says travel ban will stop ‘chequebook diplomacy’ during elections

A ban on diplomatic visits to Kiribati during elections will safeguard against undue foreign influence during the formation of government, the head of its delegation at the Pacific Island Forum leaders meeting said. 

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Pacific faces health emergency, WHO Pacific director urges Forum Leaders to act now or face devastating consequences

The newly appointed World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional director for the Western Pacific, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, has called on Forum Leaders to confront the region’s most critical health challenges with urgency

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